Means for controlling refrigerating apparatus and interchanging the functions of complementary heat exchange elements thereof



NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN HE FUNCTIONS OF COMPLEMENTARY HEAT EXCHANG EEEEEEEEEEEEEE 0F Filed May 51, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3, 1936. w v DU E 2,033,063- MEANS FOR CONTROLLING REFRIGERATING APPARATUS AND INTERCHANGING THE FUNCTIONS OF COMPLEMENTARY HEAT EXCHANGE ELEMENTS THEREOF 7 Filed May 31, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JIH side A\r I 1 1; INVENTOR WM .V. DUKE- Patented Mar. 3, 1936 ING APPARATUS AND INTERCHANGING THE FUNCTIONS OF COMPLEMENTARY HEAT EXCHANGE ELEMENTS THEREOF William V. Duke, Philadelphia, Pa.,

assignor to Baldwin-Southwark Corporation, a. corporation of Delaware Application May 31, 1933, Serial No. 673,758

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to air conditioning apparatus of the type-employing a compressor-condenser-expander circuit and more particularly to improved means for controlling 5 the compressor automatically in accordance with a predetermined operation of suitable valve mechanism for interchanging the functions of the condenser and evaporator whereby the refrigerating system may be used for heating or cooling purm poses.

Air conditioning apparatus especially of the room unit type employing complementary heat exchange elements over which outside air and room air are circulated respectively, may be ef- 15 fectively used for either heating or cooling the air of rooms, ofices or the like merely by caus ing the heat exchange element within the flow of room air to serve alternatively as a condenser or evaporator.

To effect such interchange of functions, it is desirable to control the compressor in such a manner that refrigerant will not be pumped through the heat exchange elements during the interchanging operation thereof. In the specific 25 embodiment of the invention herein shown the compressor is controlled by connecting or disconnecting the electric circuit to the compressor motor automatically in accordance with the initiation or completion of the interchanging op- 30 eration or substantially so.

It is one object of my invention to provide improved means for controlling the compressor. Another object is to provide an improved switch mechanism and operating means therefor in con- 35 junction with interchanging valve mechanism whereby the compressor will be rendered inoper ative for pumping substantially upon initiation of the interchanging function and will have its pumping operation reestablished automatically 40 substantially upon completion of the interchanging operation.

A further and more specific object is to provide a relatively simple, compact and economical construction and arrangement of rotatable switch means and actuating means therefor in conjunction with interchanging valve mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the accompanying drawings in which: s

Fig. 1 is a perspective looking up toward the under side of interchanging valve mechanism with my improved switching means and actuating 55 mechanism therefor, the interchanging valves being shown with their valve stems projecting downwardly;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of part of the interchanging valve mechanism with my improved compressor switch control embodied therewith;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the refrigerating system, interchanging valvemechanism and compressor switch control.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention which is shown herein merely for purposes of disclosing one specific form among possible others that the invention might take, I have provided a refrigerating circuit including a motor I for driving a compressor 2 whose discharge side is connected to a pipe 3, thence through a passage 4 of interchanging valve 5 to pipe 6 and heat exchange element 1 over which outside air is preferably circulated to condense the refrigerant in this particular setting of the interchanging valves. Condensed refrigerant then flows through suitable traps or expansion valves 8 and 9 to a flooded type evaporator l over which room air is circulated to be cooled. The gaseous refrigerant from heat exchange element It then flows through pipe II to passage l2 of interchanging valve l3 and thence to the suction pipe M of the compressor. The refrigerant system so far described is employed preferably in an air conditioning unit of the type shown in the pending application of H. L. Galson, filed December24, 1932, Serial No. 648,772. The interchanging valve mechanism and operating means therefor is preferably of the type disclosed in application of J. Vogler about to be filed or filed herewith. Hence it will suflice to describe the valve mechanism and operating means only briefly.

The interchanging valves, preferably of the rotatable type, are disposed preferably in an inverted position with the valve stems extending downwardly from the valve casings. Valve arms I and I6 preferably have slidable and pivotal connection as at H and I8. to right and left hand threaded nuts I!) and 20 respectively. An actuating screw shaft 2|, upon which said nuts are threaded, is supported in suitable brackets 22 and 23 while the screw shaft is provided with a suitable slotted end 24. The operation of this valve mechanism consists in inserting a suitable crank in the slotted end 24 of the screw shaft 2| and rotating the same in the desired direction, it

being noted that in one extreme position as shown in Fig. 1 the valve arms and nuts 19 and 20 are adjacent each other whereas upon suitable rotation of the screw, these arms and nuts will be moved away from each other to the extreme ends of the screw, thereby rotating the valves and changing the valve ports 4 and I2, Fig. 4, to connect pipes 3 and II and 6 and I4 respectively to cause heat exchange element 1 to now function as an evaporator and element I! as a condenser,

I thereby causing room air to be heated when flowing over condenser l8.

To permit the foregoing interchanging function to be effectively made without the possibility of injury to the refrigerating system or machinery thereof, I have provided in conjunction with the valve mechanism, a relatively simple switching mechanism and operating means therefor, whereby the compressor is rendered inoperative to perform its pumping mechanism, specifically by disconnecting the compressor motor. This switching mechanism includes a pin secured to one of the screw nuts such as 28. Journalled upon a suitably reduced end of pin 25 is an insulation disc 26 upon which is mounted preferably two mercury switches 21 and 28 whose tubular glass containers are held by metal clips 29 and 30. These slips are suitably supported on an L-shaped metal frame 33 which is bent around the outer end of pin 25, the metal frame 33 being supported on the disc 26 by flanges 3| and 32 formed from and bent at right angles to frame 33. Terminals 34 and 35 are also secured to insulation disc 26 and wires 36 and 31 each connect into the contact-making ends 38 and 39 of switches 21 and 28. In the position shown in Fig. 2, switch 21 is in position to have the globule of mercury 39 make contact between wires 36 and 31 while the globule of mercury 40 in switch 28 is at the opposite end of its tube to break its contact.

To support and actuate the bracket 33 on disc 26 and also to insure simple and yet accurate alignment and positioning of the switches, the flanges 3| and 32 are provided with holes 4| and 42 adapted to be placed in alignment with corresponding holes in disc 26 and also in ahgnment with holes in an actuating arm 43. With said respective sets of holes in alignment, pins or rivets 44 may then be inserted to hold the various members and actuating arm 43 in fixed relation. A slot 45 in arm 43 receives a fixed pin 46 carried preferably by the housing of valve mechanism l3. The slotted end of the arm is preferably removably held by suitable means such, for instance, as a cotter pin 41 passing through pin 46, while disc 26 is held to pin 25 preferably by a cotter pin 48. If desired a suitable switch cover 49 may be detachably secured to disc 26. Terminals 34 and 35 are connected to a suitable relay 50 for controlling a motor circuit switch 5|.

Operation-To interchange the functions of the heat exchange elements 1 and I8, screw 2| is rotated thereby causing nuts I9 and 20 in their position shown in Fig. 1 to be moved away from each other, thereby causing valves 5 and I3, Fig. 4, to be rotated. Substantially immediately, although not necessarily, upon movement of nut 20, pin 25 will move therewith and accordingly cause rotation of disc 26 due to the outer end of arm 43 being guided around fixed pin 46. As disc 26 rotates from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, there is an intermediate position during which the pools of mercury 38 and 48 will each be in the non-contact end of their tubes with the result that no circuit is completed for relay coil 50, thus allowing motor circuit 6| to open to stop operation of the motor and compressor. This double non-contact position occurs substantially early in the movement of nut 20 so that there is a substantial extent of adjustment of the interchanging valves 5 and I3 with the compressor inactive and before switch 21 is moved to a horizontal position such as shown in Fig. 2, where mercury 39 establishes contact between wires 36 and 31 at the contacting end 38. When this occurs, relay coil 58 is energized and switch 5| closed to restart the motor. By this time, however, the interchanging function has been substantially completed if not completed and hence the whole system is ready for operation. When it is desired to interchange the functions of the heat exchange elements in the reverse order, screw shaft 2| is merely rotated in the opposite direction to bring nuts l9 and 28 of the valve arms l5 and I6 to the in .which event switch 28 is rotated to a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1, thereby to make contact between wires 36 and 31 at the end 38.

From the foregoing description it is seen that I have provided a relatively simple and yet highly effective means for controlling the compressor, this means being readily replaceable and adapted to be built as a unit for simple association and cooperation with the interchanging valve mechanism.

It will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, means rotatable about a single axis for rendering said compressor inoperative automatically substantially upon initiation of said interchanging operation, said latter means including a rotatable element and means continuously engageable with said rotatable element for positively rotating the same in opposite directions.

2. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combii nation, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements while said compressor is inoperative, a switch mechanism rotatable about a single axis for establishing the pumping operation of said compressor automatically substantially upon completion of the interchanging operation, and means continuously engageable with said rotatable switch mechanism for effecting positive rotation of the same in opposite directions.

3. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, a plurality of simultaneously rotatable switch contacts for rendering said compressor substantially inoperative automatically upon initiation of said interchanging operation and for establishing operativeness of the compressor substantially upon completion of said interchanging operation.

4. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the various changes may be made position shown in Fig. 1 v

functions of said heat exchange elements, a plurality of mercury controlled contacts adapted to control operation of said compressor, and means for rotatably supporting and simultaneously actuating said contacts automatically in accordance with a predetermined operation of said interchanging valves.

5. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, and means for controlling said compressor automatically in accordance with a predetermined operation of said interchanging mechanism including a plurality of rotatable mercury controlled switches having at all times a fixed angular relation with respect to each other so that in certain rotatable positions both contacts are broken and in other positions one or the other of said contacts is completed.

6. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, actuating means for said interchanging valve means, a mercury controlled switch for said compressor, and means for rotating said switch including movable and stationary cooperating members constantly engaged with each other and one of which is carried by and movable with said actuating means and the other of which is associated with a suitable stationary element.

'1. Apparatus for controlling a. refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, switch means for starting and stopping the compressor motor automatically upon initiation or completion of the interechanging operation including a pair of mercury switches disposed substantially at right angles to each other and with one in a substantially horizontal ,position and the other in a substantially vertical position, when the compressor is operating and one of said heat exchange elements is functioning as a condenser, and vice versa when said heat exchange element is functioning as an evaporator, and means for rotating said mercury switches automatically in accordance with actuation of said interchanging means.

8. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, nut and screw means for actuating said interchanging valve means, a rotatable mercury switch, a pivot pin for supporting said switch and carried by and movable with said nut, and stationary means for resisting movement of said switch, thereby causing the switch to rotate as said nut travels along the screw to effect said interchanging operation.

9. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, and a plurality of rotatable switches for rendering said compressor inoperative automatically substantially upon initiation of said interchanging operation and. of rendering the compressor operative substantially upon completion of said interchanging operation, said switches being supported for rotatable movement about a common axis.

10. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, a. plurality of rotatable switches for rendering said compressor inoperative automatically substantially upon initiation of said interchanging operation and of rendering the compressor operative substantially upon completion of said interchanging operation, sald switches being supported for rotatable movement about a common axis, and means cooperating with said switches including an arm fixed to said switches for rotation thereof and a second operation with said arm whereby relative movement between said two pivots effects rotation of said switches.

.11. Apparatus for controlling a refrigerating system having complementary heat exchange elements and a compressor comprising, in combination, valve means for interchanging the functions of said heat exchange elements, actuating means for said interchanging valve means, a mercury controlled switch for said compressor, and means for rotating said switch including movable and stationary cooperating members constantly engaged with each other and one of which is movable with said actuating means and the other of which is associated with a suitable stationary element.

WILLIAM V. DUKE.

pivot adapted for 00- 

